What’s the best career for a person with the DISC D personality? 

If you or someone you know identifies with the Dominance personality type, you’re probably wondering what this means in terms of career paths. While there’s no rule that people with this personality have to gravitate towards particular careers, there are some roles that are well suited to this personality type’s strengths and goals. 

So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at DISC and possible careers for type D personalities. 

DISC: An overview

In 1928, American psychologist Dr William Moulton Marston published his book Emotions of Normal People, laying out DISC theory. In short, DISC is a way of categorising people based on their behavioural styles, commonly referred to as their personality type or profile. However, Marston did not create a way to measure the personalities of different people for the workplace; this was first done by industrial psychologist Walter Clarke in the 1950s. Clarke’s self-questionnaire paved the way for the modern DISC assessment, a tried-and-tested personality assessment that identifies four key types of personality:

  • Dominance: direct and results-oriented, people with the D personality style are problem solvers who care about the big picture and the bottom line. 
  • Influence: outgoing and energetic, people with the Influence personality type are good at motivating others and working together in a team.
  • Steadiness: stable and reliable, people with the S personality prefer working in a harmonious environment and are good at supporting and listening to others.
  • Compliance: task-oriented and analytical, DISC C types prefer to focus on the details, follow the rules, and work independently to achieve success. 

Individuals who take the assessment may find that their personality fits into just one of the aforementioned profiles (a person who is just Dominance would be called a ‘high D’), or multiple categories: DI or SC, for example. 

To learn more about DISC and the DISC assessment, check out our full blog post: What is the DISC assessment? 

Characteristics of the Dominance DISC type

Now that we’ve explained the basics of DISC, let’s take a closer look at the Dominance personality type. 

It’s easy to remember the Dominance profile traits because many of these start with D; these individuals are direct, demanding, dominant, decisive, and driven. Outgoing and ambitious, these people tend to have high self-confidence and enjoy working towards their goals. They’re happy to take risks if they think they will pay off – Dominance types don’t mind change as long as they’re in charge. 

While D types do not necessarily make better leaders than other DISC styles, these individuals tend to prefer leadership positions because this allows them to take charge of situations, make decisions, and delegate tasks to others. They also often care about status and can be competitive in nature, which means that being the leader of a team appeals to them. Their leadership style can be authoritative and commanding – they’re good at acting quickly and decisively but they sometimes struggle to motivate their team or listen to input from others. 

Like all DISC types, D profiles have their unique limitations and areas for growth. Due to their independent and self-assured nature, they can sometimes unintentionally damage working relationships with team members who do not share their goals or who want to approach tasks in different ways. Type D personalities often need to work on their communication and listening skills in order to make sure that everyone on their team is getting to contribute. Moreover, their direct manner of speaking can sometimes alienate other team members, leading to misunderstandings as a result. 

Furthermore, type D individuals sometimes focus too much on the big picture and fail to see the importance of the finer details. This can result in projects getting off track or important details being overlooked. To grow in their careers, it’s useful for DISC D personalities to focus more on the details instead of just thinking about results. 

So, with all this in mind, which types of careers are best suited to type D individuals? Here are just a few roles where D style personalities can thrive. 

Founder

DISC D personalities thrive when they are able to pursue big goals and do things their way. This is why a career as a business founder often appeals to D types. Providing them with the freedom to take risks, make decisions, and strive for results, founding a business is a rewarding career path for Dominance individuals. However, it’s important to understand that success is seldom achieved alone; to see the best results, D types may need to build relationships and work collaboratively to overcome challenges. 

Police officer

Dominance types are great in fast-paced and dynamic careers, which is why a role as a police officer is a great option for these individuals. Providing a range of new challenges every day, a career in the police allows D types to use their problem-solving skills and quick decision-making. 

Lawyer

Ambitious and competitive, legal careers are well suited for type D personalities. In these roles, Dominance types are able to use their independence and leadership skills to their advantage. Moreover, their straightforward and direct communication style is an asset in these roles.  

Salesperson

Sales is another great career opportunity for individuals with this personality. Fast-paced and competitive, a role as a salesperson allows D types to focus on hitting targets and achieving success. 

Conclusion

While the ideal job differs from person to person, DISC is a useful way to help evaluate the traits, strengths, and limitations that make a person suitable for a role. 

Of course, people of all different personality types can thrive in a wide range of careers. People with the Dominance style don’t have to become lawyers or founders; they might even thrive as a teacher, marketer, or data analyst. Similarly, an Influence type might make a great salesperson, while a Compliance type can be an excellent founder. In short, it’s important to understand that our DISC types don’t mean we can’t do particular jobs – it’s just a way of better understanding ourselves and our strengths. 

Are you interested in finding out more about your DISC type or integrating DISC into your organisation? Check out our DISC training and consulting services to learn how DISC can empower your team, or take a look at our range of DISC profile reports today.